Meet the Festival's 2026 String Fellows

Carlos Chacón (he/him) is a Venezuelan violinist who began his musical journey at the age of seven through El Sistema. He later continued his studies at the Simón Bolívar Music Conservatory in Caracas, where he pursued formal training in violin performance.

At just 15 years old, he joined the Caracas Symphony Orchestra. In 2018, he became a member of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel, performing on international stages across Italy, Turkey, Spain, and Russia.

Carlos is currently a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and plays in the first violin section of the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also performed with ensembles such as the Des Moines Symphony, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, Elgin Symphony, and Illinois Symphony, among others.

Throughout his career, he has studied with distinguished teachers including Almita Vamos, Minghuan Xu, Camilo Acosta, Luis Miguel Gonzales, and José Francisco del Castillo. He is currently pursuing advanced studies at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.

Alongside his performing career, Carlos holds a position as a resident player and fine instrument specialist at William Harris Lee & Co., a renowned violin atelier, where he is entrusted with the care and performance of distinguished instruments.

Valentina Guillen Menesello (she/her) is a Venezuelan violinist based in Chicago. She began her musical training in Mérida, Venezuela, through the renowned El Sistema program, an experience that continues to shape her artistic voice. She later moved to the United States to continue her studies, attending DePaul University, where she earned a Bachelor of Music and Certificate in Performance, and Northwestern University, where she completed her Master of Music. Her principal teachers are Gerardo Ribeiro, Olga D. Kaler, and Ann Setzer.

From 2021 to 2024, Valentina was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. She has since performed as a substitute with ensembles including the New World Symphony, Sinfónica de Minería, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, and Northbrook Symphony Orchestra.

In addition to her orchestral work, Valentina maintains an active freelance career in Chicago. She is also a dedicated educator and has been a faculty member at the Northwestern University Music Academy since 2021.

Steven Baloue (he/him) is a violist from Chicago, Illinois. He is a newly appointed member of the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra.

Steven earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University where he studied with Edward Gazouleas and Atar Arad. He is currently earning a performers diploma from the Jacobs School, studying with Professor Li Kuo Chang.

As a soloist, Steven has won prizes in the Omega Psi Phi Talent Hunt Competition, the Merit School of Music Concerto Competition, and the IU Jacobs Concerto Competition. As a chamber musician, he has been awarded numerous fellowships, including the 2019 Fresno Summer Orchestra Academy, the 2023 Bowdoin International Music Festival, and multiple engagements with the Heifetz International Music Institute, including two tours, five summers, and a tenure as an artist in residence in the spring of 2022. As an orchestral musician, Steven has served as principal violist in the Jacobs School’s Symphony, University, and Baroque Orchestras. Steven has participated in masterclasses with Kim Kashkashian, Li-Kuo Chang, Roger Chase, Paul Katz, Matthieu Herzog, and the Calidore Quartet, The Borromeo Quartet, and many others.

Miquel Fuentes (he/him) is a cellist currently completing his master’s degree at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music, studying with Hans Jørgen Jensen. In 2020, he was a finalist in the Pablo Casals International Award, receiving an Honorary Mention. Since then, he has been a first-prize winner of the 2021 X Concurso de Cordas “Cidade de Vigo,” semi-finalist in the 2025 Sphinx Competition (Senior Division), and a finalist in the 2026 Sphinx Orchestra Partners Auditions. In 2022, Fuentes made his solo debut with Antoni Ros Marbà at L’Auditori de Barcelona performing Montsalvatge’s El Cant dels Ocells. He has performed internationally including the Mahler Chamber Orchestra Academy and the Saline Royale Academy with Frans Helmerson.